In this review, the Cincinnati Reds reach the All-Star break. FC Cincinnati endures a draw that felt like a loss to fans. Plus, a crisis in Haiti prompts thoughts about a former Cincinnati Bengals player.

Cincinnati Reds reach the All-Star break on high note

The Reds stretched their winning streak to five last Monday. Doing so in what has become familiar comeback fashion. By surging ahead through a home run from Eugenio Suarez. Giving the Reds a 6-2 win against the Kansas City Royals. The Royals were the ones to come from behind on Tuesday. Beating the Reds 7-6 through a four-run rally in the bottom of the ninth.

The Reds rallied from behind again last Wednesday. Winning the series finale against the Royals 5-2. From there Cincinnati traveled to face the Milwaukee Brewers. Taking on the task of loosening Milwaukee’s grip on the National League Central division’s lead. After losing game one last Thursday, the Reds won the remaining three games of the series.

The week ahead for the Reds

The Reds are heading into the All-Star break playing some of their best baseball in seven years. Going into the break with a 48-42 record, four games behind the Brewers. While being solely in second place in the division. Reds outfielders Nick Castellanos and Jesse Winker will be starters in Tuesday’s MLB All-Star Game in Denver, CO. They will not be in tonight’s Home Run Derby. Which could be considered good news for Reds fans and both players. Due to concerns participating in the derby might mess with Castellanos and Winker’s rhythms batting-wise.

Tonight’s Home Run Derby is set to start at 8 PM Eastern on ESPN. Tuesday’s All-Star Game can be seen on Fox at 7:30 PM Eastern. The Reds will resume play this Friday; taking on the Brewers in a three-game series at Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park. Friday and Saturday’s games are set to start at 7:10 PM Eastern. Sunday’s game is set to start at 1:10 PM Eastern.

FC Cincinnati draw against cross-state rival Crew

FC Cincinnati spent much of last Friday’s match on track towards beating the Columbus Crew. Leading 2-0 at one point, in the first “Hell is Real” derby match at TQL Stadium. Only to wind up ending the match with a 2-2 draw. Edgar Castillo scored FCC’s first goal in the first minute. The fastest goal by a Major League Soccer club this season and Castillo’s first goal with FCC. Luciano Acosta scored FC Cincinnati’s second goal in the 24th minute. Acosta also assisted Castillo’s with his first minute goal.

Lucas Zelarayan put Columbus on the board just before halftime. Miguel Berry scored the decisive equalizer in the 77th minute. Last Friday’s match marked the second-consecutive draw for FC Cincinnati. FCC drew 1-1 against the Houston Dynamo on July 3rd. Next up for Cincinnati, a match against CF Montreal. The team FC Cincy beat for their first win of the season on May 22nd. FCC and Montreal’s match this Saturday is set to start at 7:30 PM Eastern on WSTR-TV (64).

The site of the match is yet to be determined. Montreal played most of their home matches in Fort Lauderdale, FL this season. Due to US-Canadian border travel restriction prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. They’ve played their last two home matches in New Jersey and Orlando, FL. Due to Fort Lauderdale’s DRV PNK Stadium’s hosting of CONCACAF Gold Cup matches. Montreal and MLS’ two other Canadian clubs are striving for plans to return to playing home matches in Canada. A decision on the location of Saturday’s match will be determined later this week.

Haitian crisis prompts thoughts on a former Bengals player

In the aftermath of last Wednesday’s assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse. This writers thoughts turned towards a school in Haiti. One with a special connection to former Cincinnati Bengals running back Giovani Bernard. Now with the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Back in his birth state of Florida and home to the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning.

The school, Jardin Vert de Josette, is named after his late mother Josette. Located in her birthplace Tabarre, roughly a 20 minute drive east of Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince. Bernard’s efforts to help build the school extended to helping build up Tabarre too. Through supplying resources to install electricity and running water. His efforts resulted in his nomination for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2019.

Moïse’s assassination is adding turmoil onto a nation already packed with turmoil. Due to a combination of natural disasters, massive poverty, violence and political corruption. Moïse himself faced protests due to overstaying his term in office. Along with protests over various domestic issues throughout his presidency. Now Haiti is in a state of siege and grappling with a power vacuum.

Several people are claiming they should be the interim president. There’s outgoing Prime Minister Claude Joseph and his appointed though yet to be sworn in successor Ariel Henry. Plus, Haiti’s Senate President Joseph Lambert, former President Michel Martelly and a prominent businessman Reginald Boulos. The drama could be sorted out or exacerbated by potential elections in September. All of which makes recent drama in Washington D.C. seem more quaint by comparison.

The looming uncertainty leaves this writer wondering about the students in Tabarre. Dealing with the impact of turmoil no young person anywhere should face. These young people face a nation struggling under decades of disarray. Someday, the students and their peers will be old enough to be the nation’s leaders. They will be tasked with taking on long-term challenges and bring peace to Haiti.